Malta becomes second European country to lower voting age to 16

The Maltese parliament adopted the constitutional changes expanding the voting rights to 16 and 17-year-olds, with all 64 lawmakers voting in favor of the proposal. A large number of youths observed the decision from parliament's visitors' gallery, according to Maltese media.

The changes add 8,500 new voters in the Mediterranean country with a population of some 437,000. They would be able to exercise their right for the first time during the elections for the EU parliament in 2019.

In Malta, 16-year-olds have been able to vote in city council elections since 2015.The changes make Malta the second EU state to lower its national voting age to 16, after Austria adopted similar reforms in 2008.